By kyohnson 
In FONDA, NY, as King Of Dirt Racing approaches the season opener on May 14th at Utica Rome Speedway, a flurry of activities is underway. It is exciting news that Mike Romano and Andy’s Speed Shop will support the KOD/DIRTcar East Region Sportsman series, making all events with a minimum payout of $1,250 to the winner.
Romano is a renowned racing family name that is well-known among drivers, fans, officials, and promoters. This name is synonymous with a host of remarkable achievements, such as being inducted into the hall of fame, being a feature race winner, a champion driver, a championship car owner, a promoter, a successful businessman, and a major supporter of dirt track racing.
Andy’s Speed Shop, located in Johnstown, New York, is a prominent place to obtain racing gear. It has become an integral part of racing in the Capital District. After some patience, Mike Romano stepped up when the time came to join the King Of Dirt Racing family of marketing partners.
“As I was catching up on things, it was crucial for me to find a suitable spot for Mike that would give his Andy’s Speed Shop good visibility. We discussed several ideas, and maybe something unique, but in the end, it was all about making sure his support was noticed. When I mentioned the opportunity to become one of the presenting sponsors on the Sportsman side, he didn’t hesitate,” said Rob Hazer, the King Of Dirt Racing Promoter.
Andy’s Speed Shop will support each event with a $250 bonus, making each race during the KOD/DIRTcar East Region tour worth at least $1,250 to win. The Northeast Crate Nationals at Albany-Saratoga, one of Andy’s Speed Shop’s home tracks, will also receive this support, and it traditionally has one of the largest purses for Sportsman competitors in the season.
Another race where Andy’s Speed Shop support will offer a higher payout for drivers is the Green Mountain State Clash at Devil’s Bowl Speedway on May 28th. Mike Bruno and his team had already offered a $1,200 payday, and with Romano’s support, this event will now be worth $1,450.
“Mike joined last season and gives away products at the banquet. He’s also the place where drivers can turn in Hoosier Tire Certificates. I made sure to ensure there were no marketing conflicts by working with both speed shops. He was very patient, and in the end, I think everyone is happy, and what he’s doing for the drivers is beneficial to what we do at KOD in general. I, along with everyone else, appreciate that,” concluded Rob Hazer.
Andy’s Speed Shop is located at 553 South Comrie Ave in Johnstown, NY. You can find them on the web at www.andys-speedshop.com and also on Facebook.
Sportsman will compete for $1,250 to win and $100 to start, while the Pro Stock division will compete for $850 to win and $50 to start. King Of Dirt Racing rules will apply to both divisions. The Sportsman division is based on DIRTcar rules, and the Pro Stocks are Crate Motors Only. There is a $20 entry fee for all drivers participating in KOD events.
Admission prices for the evening are $16 for adults, $13 for seniors, military personnel, or students, and kids under 16 are free. Pit admission is $27 with a license and $30 without. For more information, visit www.uticaromespeedway.com.
Now that the schedule is set and the rules are on the website, it’s only a matter of time before a very busy racing season gets underway for King Of Dirt Racing.
2017 KING OF DIRT RACING SMALL BLOCK MODIFIED SCHEDULE
06/13/17 Devil’s Bowl Speedway West Haven, VT 40 Laps
07/09/17 Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, NY 40 Laps
07/30/17 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon, NY 35 Laps
08/20/17 Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, NY 40 Laps
09/08/17 Albany Saratoga Speedway Malta, NY 40 Laps
09/09/17 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon, NY 35 Laps
09/15/17 Albany Saratoga Speedway Malta, NY 40 Laps
09/23/17 Fonda Speedway Fonda, NY 40 Laps
2017 KING OF DIRT RACING SPORTSMAN SCHEDULE (DIRTcar East Region)
05/14/17 Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, NY 30 Laps
05/28/17 Devil’s Bowl Speedway West Haven, VT 35 Laps
07/15/17 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon, NY 30 Laps
08/15/17 Albany Saratoga Speedway Malta, NY 30 Laps
08/20/17 Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, NY 30 Laps
08/31/17 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon, NY 30 Laps
09/08/17 Albany Saratoga Speedway Malta, NY 100 Laps
09/22/17 Fonda Speedway Fonda, NY 30 Laps
2017 KING OF DIRT RACING PRO STOCK SCHEDULE
05/14/17 Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, NY 30 Laps
06/02/17 Albany Saratoga Speedway Malta, NY 30 Laps
07/07/17 Albany Saratoga Speedway Malta, NY 30 Laps
08/20/17 Utica Rome Speedway Vernon, NY 30 Laps
08/26/17 Lebanon Valley Speedway West Lebanon, NY 30 Laps
09/17/17 Devil’s Bowl Speedway West Haven, VT 29 Laps
For more information on the King Of Dirt Racing Series, visit on the web at www.kingofdirtracing.com.
You can also find King Of Dirt via Twitter @kodracingseries or @kodracing.
Look for KOD also on Instagram @kingofdirtracing or on Facebook www.facebook.com/kingofdirtracing.
Follow King Of Dirt Racing Series happenings via Instagram @kingofdirtracing.
For more information on DIRTcar Racing, visit www.dirtcar.com.
KING OF DIRT RACING is brought to you in part by sponsors and partners that include: Albany-Saratoga Speedway, Devil’s Bowl Speedway, Fonda Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Utica Rome Speedway, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, A-1 Installers, Andy’s Speed Shop, Beyea Custom Headers & Exhaust, Bicknell Racing Products, Bill McGaffin Photography, Bruno’s Towing & Recovery, Buff’s Auto Service, Burt’s Tree Service, Central NY Motorsports, Dean’s Electrical Service, DE Signs & Designs, Dirt Track Digest, DKM Fabrication, DMC Racing Products, Dodson Construction, Electric City Taxi, Elmo’s Auto Body, Elmo’s Speed Supply, Extreme Speed & Performance, Fast Axle, Fastline Performance, Flach Performance Products, Fox Racing Shocks, HICO Fabrication, Herrington Farms Inc., Hoosier Racing Tire, J-Tees Screen Printing, Lazzaro’s Auto Body, Macedon Parts Plus, Mayhem Motorsports, Moore 2 Music Entertainment, Mueller & Sons Towing/Recovery, NAPA Auto Parts Of Gloversville/Johnstown, Next Generation Roofing, PFC Brakes, R3 Graphics, Race Pro Weekly, Racers Guide, Redline Graphics, Saratoga Masonry, Simplicity Designs, Speed’s Garage, Stone Motorsports.